Springfield daily republic. [volume] (Springfield, O. [Ohio]) 1887-1888, 1887-08-06

head. and, being shaf-d like AN .lIi,se. cont
pletely framed the face, 80 that the diabolical
countenanre appeared to project FROM q sort
Of feather fire screen. Round the ankles he
wore black fringes Of hair, and projecting
from the upper portion of the calves, to which
they were attached, were long spurs like
spikes, from which flowed down tufts Of the
beautiful black and waving hair OF the Co
lobus monkey. Such was the elaborate al
ray OF the Mnsai Elmoran who stood watch
ing the approach Of our two canoes, but it is
one which, 70 be appreciated, must be seen-
only those who See it do not often live to de-
scribe it. or course, could not make out
all these details Of his fun dress on the occa-
sion Of this my first introduction, being, in
deed, amply taken up with the consideration
Oh the Senefai erect, but l had plenty Of
subsequent opportunities OF becoming &C
quainted WIN The items that went TO make
hup
hie we were hesitatinS what TO do the
Nasal warrior drew himself up in dignified
fashion, shook his spear at us. and turning.
vanished on the farther side OF the slope.
"Hulloa! halooed Sir Henry from the
other boat, our friend the caravan leader
has been as good as his word, and set the
Nasal after us DO you think 1t VIII be safe
to go ashor'F
did not think it would be at all safe; but.
on the other hand, We had no means Of cook
ing in the canoes, and nothing that we could
eat raw. so 1t was difficult to know what to
do At last Umsloposaas simpl fled matters
by volunteering to 80 and reconnoiter, which
he did, creeping of into the bush like a snake,
while We hung of in the stream waiting for
him. In half an hour lie returned and told
us that there was not n Nasal to lie seen any
where about, but that he had discovered a
spot where they had recently been encamped,
and that from various indications he judged
that they must have moved Oh an hour or 80
before, the man we saw having no doubt,
been left to report upon our movements
Thereupon we landed, and having posted a
sentry. proceeded to cook and eat our evan.
ing meal This done, we took the situation
into our serious consideration, OF eour.-e IL
was possible that the apparition Of the Nasal
warrior had nothing to do with us, that he
was merely one OF q band bent upon some
marauding and numbering expedition against
another tribe. Our friend the consul had
told us that such expeditions were about.
But when we recalled the threat of the
caravan leader. and reflected on the ominous
way in which the warrior had shaken his
spear at us, this did not appear very prob
able On the contrary, what did seem prob
able was that the party was after us and
awaiting a favorable opportunity to attack
US This being so, ihere were two things
that We could do, one Of which was to 60 on,
and the other to go back. The latter idea
was, however, rejected ut once, it being
obvious that we should encounter as many
dangers in.retreat as in advance, and. be-
sides, We had made up our minds to journey
onward at any price. Under these circum-
stances, however, We did not consider it safe
to sleep ashore, so We got into our canoes,
and padding out into the middle Of the
stream, which was not very wide here man
aged to anchor them by means Of big stones
fastened to ropes made Of cocoanut fiber, Of
which there were several fathoms in each
canoe.
Here the mosquitoes nearly ate u up alive,
and this, combined with anxiety as to our
position, efectually prevented me from sleep
ing as the Others were doing, and somehow,
In the most unaccountable way, had sud
denly become nervous There was no par
ticular reason why l should be, beyond the
ordinary reasons which surround the Central
African traveller, and yet undoubtedly was
II there Is one thing mol than another Of
which have the most ctmpiete and entire
Scorn and disbelief, 1t ID OF presentments,
aud yet here was all OF a sudden filled with
and possessed by most hdoubted present.
ment Of approaching evil would not give
wy to it, however, although I felt the cold
perspiration stand out upon my forehead.
In the distance I heard a hippopotamus
splash fsintiy then the owl hootel again in u
kind of unnatural screaming note, and the
wind began to moan plantiy-ly through the
trees, making heart chilling music Above
was the black bosom OF the cloud, and
beneath me swept the black hooi Of the
water, and felt as though and death were
utterly alone between them. 1t was very
deSulate
Suddenly my blood seemed 10 freeze in my
veins and my heart 10 stand still Was il
fancy. or We're We movingt l turned my
eyes to look for the other canoe, which should
he alongside Of US could not see it, but in
stead saw lean and clutching black hand
lifting itself above the sunwale Of the little
boat Surely it was u nightmare, At the
same time dim but dey ilish looking face ap-
peared to rise out of the water and then
came a lurch OF the canoe u quick flash of q
knife and all awful yell from the Wakwafi
who was sleeping by my side (the same poor
fellow whose odOr had been annoying mel,
and something warm spurtei into my face.
In all instant the spell WAS broken; knew
that it was no nightmare, but that we were
attacked by swimming Masai Sna,ching at
the first weapon which came to hand, which
happened to bc Umslopogaas' battleax, l
struck with all my force in the direction in
which had seen the fash of the knife Tbs
blow fell upon a mans arm, and, catching it
against the thick wooden gnuwale Of the
canoe, completely severed it from the body
just above the wrist As for its ner, be ut
tered no sound or cry Like ghost ne came,
and like ghost he went, leaving behind him
n bloody hand still grip ng u great knife, or
rather short sword, that was buried in the
heart of our poor servant